Nursing
Home Abuse
Nursing
Home Abuse is affecting how families are making decisions
about the well-being of their loved ones. An alarming one
in three homes are reported for nursing home abuse, and with
over 17,000 facilities nationwide, the chances that a loved
one will be a victim of nursing home abuse is extremely high.
Today there are 1.6 million residents in our nation's nursing
homes with an estimated 5 million thirty years from now. While
we try to do our homework in hopes the home we choose will
be the right one, many families are finding out the hard way
that there are very few options and many more risks.
Nursing
Home Abuse Warning Signs
Following,
are some of the early warning signs of nursing home abuse.
Many cases of nursing home abuse are thought to go unreported
because a loved one may fear disclosing information about
their treatment or many simply may not have the physical and/or
mental capabilities to. If you witness any of these warning
signs you should contact an attorney
that specializes in nursing home abuse and neglect. They will
have the resources needed to conduct an independent research
to determine if, in fact, your loved one is being abused.
What may seem to be a minor nursing home abuse signal may
be the result of a much greater problem.
First,
look for physical abuse such as, bed sores, rapid weight gain
or loss, frequent or unusual fractures and breaks, malnutrition
or dehydration, over medicated, arks on the wrists (restraints?),
lack of activity, untrained staff, isolated in their room,
and/or bruises or other marks on the body.
NOTE:
Your loved one may not tell you about nursing home abuse because
they may be too frightened, they may be threatened by the
abuser, they may think that the abuse is normal, they may
not even be aware they are being abused. And finally, they
may feel they deserve to be punished.
Other
nursing home abuse warning signs may come from the abusers
themselves. They (the abusers) may not call when your loved
one is taken to the hospital for treatments. The staff may
not be keeping you informed of what is going on with your
loved one. They can't explain odd marks or bruises on the
elder. Frequent emergency room visits, and not contacting
you when the latter occurs.
As
always, if you are suspicious of nursing home abuse, call
an attorney that specializes
in Elder and Long Term Healthcare Law.
What
is Nursing Home Abuse? Any act, failure to act, or incitement
to act done willfully, knowingly, or recklessly through words
or physical action which causes or could cause mental or physical
injury or harm or death to a resident. This included verbal,
sexual, mental/psychological, or physical abuse, including
corporal punishment, involuntary seclusion, or any other actions
within this definition.
Notable
Nursing Home Abuse Quotes
"I
couldn't get anybody's attention, starting on the fourth day.
You'd have your call light on for hours, but nobody came.
It was a dungeon, I really would have liked to see the sunshine,
but they never put us outside. The screaming is what got to
me the worst, the screaming when the lights went out. I couldn't
fall asleep until 1 or 2 in the morning with all that screaming
going on."
-Bessie Seday, 84-year old woman, Time Magazine
"I
couldn't believe what I was seeing, bruises on her neck, on
her chin, she had some bruises on her legs. I said, 'What
the hell happened to you here?'"
-Gary Love, speaks of his mother, CBS News
"I
couldn't touch her because they hadn't substantiated what
her injuries were. This is in the hospital emergency room
with my mother laying on a gurney, and I could not comfort
her."
-Bruce Love, speaks of his mother, CBS News
"My
mother experienced beating, malnutrition, dehydration and
neglect. All three of the nursing homes are responsible for
her death."
-Leslie Oliva, speaks of her mother, Time.Com
If you, or someone you love, has been effected by Nursing Home Abuse, please contact us to speak with an attorney about your legal rights!
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